Chapter 547: The Inheritor of Will

If Landuin's swordsmanship emphasized speed and ferocity, then Knights Do Not Die Unarmed showcased his perfected technique. Meanwhile, Unbroken Light of the Lake, when wielded by Landuin, exuded boundless courage and dominance.

The knight's lance swept through the air, its range so vast that Ryan could hardly approach Landuin. With a single arm, Landuin swung Unbroken Light of the Lake, tearing a black rift in space. The twisted tip of the lance, like a giant beast, surrounded by the holy light of the Lady, became Ryan's nightmare.

No matter how he tried to get close, Landuin's sweeping and slashing lance forced Ryan to retreat repeatedly. The frequency of their weapon clashes decreased but grew heavier.

Everyone realized that the Knight of the Lake had been testing Ryan, but now, Landuin was showing his full strength!

The speed of the knight's sword, Knights Do Not Die Unarmed, was extremely fast. After being injured, Landuin's fierce attacks left Ryan gasping for breath.

The knight's lance, Unbroken Light of the Lake, was slower but had an enormous attack range. When Landuin swung it consecutively, Ryan had to choose between being pierced by the lance or barely getting close to Landuin.

Wielding a sword in his left hand and a lance in his right, the Knight of the Lake engaged Ryan head-on: "Come on, Ryan Malcador!"

"I won't fail!" Ryan's blood boiled with the power gained from his advancement, making the Lady's chosen champion even stronger. Facing Landuin's leaping slash, Ryan swiftly sidestepped and swung his sword: "I must defeat you here, Sir Landuin!"

"Oh-ho! Excellent, what a beautiful resolve!" Landuin laughed heartily, his voice filled with deep satisfaction: "So, defeat me then!"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

By now, the battle had lasted from noon till dusk, but no one had the heart to eat, captivated by this championship duel.

At this moment, the Red Dragon Duke Berchmond spoke, his voice tinged with sorrow.

"Sir Landuin was my ancestor Arthur's close companion, his best friend, a perfect man," Berchmond whispered to François as they watched the battle in the swamp before the tomb. "He spent his life honing his skills and strength. After being granted the Holy Grail by the Lady, Landuin achieved victories in twelve great battles that even Arthur admired and the Lady marveled at."

"He was a pure warrior, solely focused on becoming stronger and winning," François nodded. "I believe he joined Arthur's alliance to fight the Greenskins out of his noble virtues as a warrior and his responsibilities as a leader."

"But in the end, Landuin fell out with Cyrulf," Berchmond shook his head sadly. "Sir Landuin was a pure warrior and a noble knight, but he wasn't an excellent ruler or administrator... much like myself."

François nodded in agreement. The Duke of Winford knew that among the Grail Knights, few, like himself and Ryan, had excellent administrative skills. Most Grail Knights knew little about governance and even less about diplomacy and balancing affairs.

Landuin's tragedy lay in this.

After several battles with Arthur and returning to Mousilon, Landuin found Mousilon devastated by an undead army led by a necromancer. Despite the Grail Companions' efforts to kill the necromancer, Mousilon was ruined.

Landuin's problem was that he could defeat the necromancer and every enemy but didn't know how to restore production or return Mousilon to its former state. All he could do was devote himself to martial strength, making himself stronger.

"When Landuin and Cyrulf's relationship deteriorated due to emotional conflicts and territorial disputes, and with Arthur's passing, no one had the prestige to mediate between the two original Grail Knights," François continued. "Thus, Sir Landuin fell into extreme pain. On one hand, he and Cyrulf were close friends, partners in founding the kingdom, and trusted comrades."

"On the other hand, Landuin, as the Duke of Mousilon and a noble Grail Knight, had to clear his name and be responsible for his people and territory. Knightly spirit and duty made him know he had to face Cyrulf's impeachment and accusations. Landuin was conflicted, finding that no matter what he did, it violated his own set of rules, leaving him in pain."

"The Knight of the Lake was ultimately a warrior. He chose to duel Cyrulf, leaving a scar on his old friend's face," Berchmond nodded, his face filled with sorrow. "Afterward, Landuin returned to Mousilon and never left his castle until his death."

"Clang! Clang!" The battle between Ryan and Landuin continued, showing no signs of stopping or deciding a victor. The blade of Vengeance Goddess danced like the wind, while Landuin's sword and lance swept across, their duel unknowingly extending into the night.

"Landuin truly was a martial fanatic," François said with admiration, his eyes moist. "This is a battle of inheritance."

"A battle of inheritance?" Berchmond thought for a moment and then nodded. "Indeed, it is a battle of inheritance. Landuin wants to pass his combat experience to Ryan through this duel."

"Not only that," François suddenly smiled, his sea-blue eyes twinkling. He gently stroked his goatee. "Think about it, Berch. Does Ryan have any deep enmity with Landuin?"

"Of course not," Berchmond replied immediately. "They are a thousand years apart."

"Then, does Landuin not want Ryan to become the Duke of Mousilon?" François's smile widened.

"That's also impossible. The title of Duke of Mousilon has been vacant for nearly three hundred years," Berchmond continued shaking his head. "Ryan is the Lady's chosen champion. He has the strength and the right. None of us object to him becoming the Duke of Mousilon, and Landuin certainly wouldn't."

"Then what is Landuin's reason for insisting on a championship duel with Ryan?" François's face was full of admiration and a faint smile. "Mousilon is occupied by the undead, and the Chaos army is fighting nearby. As the first Duke of Mousilon, after being called back to the mortal world, Landuin neither eliminates the undead occupying his castle nor fights the Chaos nearby. Instead, he insists on a championship duel with Ryan. Why? Wouldn't it be better to focus on the external enemies?"

"Ugh!" Berchmond suddenly understood. The Red Dragon Duke thought carefully and realized it was true.

Why did Landuin insist on dueling Ryan while ignoring the nearby Chaos and undead?

Berchmond pondered this question for several minutes but couldn't answer it. He signaled François to continue with a glance.

"It can only be said that Sir Landuin is truly Sir Landuin. He is a model of chivalry, a pure warrior, and the strongest among the first Grail Knights!" François slowly said. "Let's witness all this! Everything began with Landuin, and it will end with him."

Under the bright moonlight, Ryan and Landuin's battle continued. Landuin's arm, wielding Unbroken Light of the Lake, remained strong. Under the moonlight, he displayed all his power, the strongest among the first Grail Knights, smiling as everyone witnessed this epic championship duel.

But now, the duel was reaching its end. Landuin could feel his strength gradually fading. The Vengeance Goddess had inflicted numerous wounds on him, each one burning his soul with Ryan's psychic fire, hurting his body.

Even with the Lady's help, Landuin's spirit returned to the mortal world, but he was ultimately dead, having died nearly a thousand years ago. He burned everything to return to his peak state but unlike Ryan, a living person with powerful recovery and limitless stamina, Landuin was dead. His strength would gradually deplete until he returned to the Lady's realm, or...

His diminishing power could no longer suppress Ryan's fierce attacks. Feeling Ryan's growing strength, Landuin roared loudly, Knights Do Not Die Unarmed clashing with Vengeance Goddess five times in succession. Then, the Knight of the Lake leaped high, Unbroken Light of the Lake tracing a semicircle in the sky.

Moonlight flowed around Landuin, forming a giant light beam over ten meters long and nearly a meter wide.

"Reaching the end, surpassing the limits. Witness this light!"

"Overwhelming Lake Light!"

Landuin swung the light beam towards Ryan. The terrifying power within it could change the world and shake the mortal realm. Where the light beam passed, even the air was scorched clean.

Ryan chose to face the light beam head-on, mobilizing all his psychic energy. At this moment, his mind was filled with the Emperor's face and the teachings of the Master of Mankind.

The Grey Knight Primarch gathered unimaginable psychic power, explosive psychic light bursting from within. This power was so intense that Ryan's hair and entire body were engulfed in psychic flames.

It was a force that could subdue everything and devour all.

This power coursed through Vengeance Goddess, flowing from Ryan's sword.

Landuin's strongest battle technique was thus blocked by Ryan.

"What?" For the first time, the Knight of the Lake was surprised.

Ryan exerted all his strength to control his power, deflecting the light beam along Landuin's original trajectory. Vengeance Goddess and Unbroken Light of the Lake clashed in mid-air, life and death powers manifesting before Ryan. Vengeance Goddess traced a circle, pushing back Landuin's light beam and lance. The moonlight's power of destruction surged back into Landuin's body, accompanied by a deafening explosion, engulfing him in moonlight.

A white-hot lightning bolt shot out,

 cutting through the air, severely wounding Landuin again. The Knight of the Lake's entire body was scorched black, and this time, a wail escaped his lips as he was surrounded by flames and lightning.

Though Ryan was also severely injured from taking Landuin's strongest technique head-on, he gritted his teeth and charged forward.

Landuin immediately raised Knights Do Not Die Unarmed to block.

"Clang!" This was an unknown number of clashes between Vengeance Goddess and Knights Do Not Die Unarmed.

The damage and loss of strength finally made the Knight of the Lake show a flaw. Ryan raised both hands, deflecting Knights Do Not Die Unarmed with Vengeance Goddess.

In the next heartbeat, the blade pierced through Landuin's chest and back.

Though Ryan avoided the heart, Landuin still lost his ability to fight, kneeling with blood flowing.

The championship duel finally had a winner.

"I'm sorry, Sir Landuin." Despite his victory, Ryan showed no joy, anxiously running to Landuin and checking his wounds. "I'm truly sorry."

"Hehehe~ You have nothing to apologize for, Ryan Malcador," Landuin, severely injured, smiled contentedly. The fine lines and furrowed brows on his handsome face relaxed. "I am the one who should apologize! I'm sorry, champion of the Lady, for causing you so much trouble."

"No! I am the one who should thank you, Sir Landuin. Without you, I would not have..." Ryan, seeing Landuin's bloodied chest, quickly took out the Wood Elf's berry wine. "Sir Landuin, please use this! It's made from the Life Spring of the Age-old Oak; it can..."

"No need." Landuin pushed away the berry wine, laughing heartily, his god-like handsome face filled with satisfaction. "So comfortable, this is... this is the duel I've been seeking all my life, a worthy opponent, a face-to-face duel, a final ending. This is what I've always wanted, this is my lifelong pursuit! Thank you, Ryan!"

"From today, as the first Duke of Mousilon, the first head of the Duke of Mousilon family, and the Knight of the Lake, I officially recognize you as the Duke of Mousilon!" Landuin suddenly shouted loudly, his voice echoing across the swamp. "Let everyone bear witness!"

All the onlookers nodded, with Morgiana, the Lake Witch, and the Green Knight stepping forward to acknowledge the appointment.

Although this appointment hadn't received the Knight King's approval, everyone present knew that if Landuin said it was so, then it was. Without the first Knight King Arthur, Landuin was the Knight Kingdom.

From today, Ryan Malcador was the new Duke of Mousilon.

"Understood!" Ryan didn't refuse. Instead, he knelt on one knee before Landuin, accepting the appointment.

He had spent nearly ten years vying for this title. Refusing now would not only be hypocritical but also contrary to the chivalric virtue of honesty and the expectations of all the nobles, the church, and the merchants supporting him.

He had to accept. There was no other choice.

"Excellent! Ryan, the future of Mousilon is in your hands," Landuin's tone was filled with hope and grandeur. He looked up at the bright moon.

After a thousand years, the crescent moon of Mousilon was still so beautiful, making him want to gaze at it a bit longer.

But time didn't allow it. Landuin's gaze turned as clear as moonlit lake water. He gestured for Ryan to listen.

"Before that, I have one unfulfilled wish, Ryan Malcador. Can you help me fulfill it?"

"Please command!" The new Duke of Mousilon knelt before Landuin, ready to listen.

"Kill me! With your sword, kill me completely!" Landuin said seriously. "This is my last wish. Use your sword to utterly destroy my soul and my decayed body. Annihilate it all!"

"What?!"

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